Space cabinet



July l5, 1958 R. c. MARTIN 2,843,443

SPACE CABINET y Filed June 7, 1957 United States Patent O SPACE CABINET Roy C. Martin, Somerville, Mass.

Application June 7, 1957, Serial No. 664,409

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-325) This invention relates to a cabinet.

The object of the invention is to provide a cabinet which is adapted to be used for holding various articles such `as tools, instruments or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space cabinet which can be used for holding any desired articles therein, and wherein the cabinet includes walls which are transparent so that the articles being displayed or stored in the cabinet can be readily seen, the cabinet including a pair of doors which can be readily opened when the articles are to be removed or replaced from the cabinet, there being a novel means for maintaining the doors immobile in their open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a space cabinet which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the space cabinet, constructed according to the present invention, and showing one of the doors in open position and one door closed.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional View taken through the space cabinet and showing the doors closed.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the doors in open position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and showing the pin which extends through the door and engages the outer edge of the side i' wall when the door is open.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the space cabinet of the present invention which can be used for holding any desired type of articles, and the cabinet 10 includes a horizontally disposed bottom wall 11, and extending upwardly from the bottom wall 11 and secured thereto is a vertically disposed back wall 12. The cabinet 10 further includes a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls 13 and a horizontally disposed top wall 14, and these walls may be made of a suitable transparent material such as a suitable plastic whereby the articles arranged within the cabinet can be readily observed or seen through the transparent walls.

rIhe space cabinet of the present invention further includes a pair of similar doors 15 of rectangular construction, and these doors 15 are mounted for movement into and out of opened or closed position. Links 16 each have an end pivotally connected to the top or bottom F wall by means of pivot pins 17, and the other ends of the links 16 are pivotally connected to lugs on the doors 15 through the medium of pivot pins 18. Coil springs 2,843,443 Patented July 15, 1958 ice 19 have their rear ends anchored to the back wall 12, while the other ends of the coil springs 19 are anchored to the upper links 16.

Secured to each of the doors 15 is a knob or handle 20 whereby the doors can be readily moved to open or closed position. Keepers of U-'shape and which are indicated by the numeral 21 are also secured to the doors 15 whereby a suitable lock can be arranged in engagement with the keepers 21 in order to prevent unauthorized or accidental opening of the doors 15. As shown in Figure 6, a pin 22 extends inwardly from each door 15, and the pins 22 are adapted `to abut the outer edge of each side wall 13 so that when the doors 15 are in their open position, the pins 22 will maintain the doors immobile in their adjusted position.

The space cabinet 10 further includes a plurality of spaced parallel inclined shelves 23 which are also adapted to be made of a suitable transparent material so as to increase the visibility of the contents of the cabinet, and the front ends of `the shelves 23 are lower than the rear ends thereof. A plurality of spaced parallel L-shaped Vsupport members 24 extend between the side walls 13 and are secured thereto, and the front ends of the shelves 23 are arranged in engagement with the support members 24 as shown in Figure 3 for example.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a cabinet which can be used for holding any desired type of articles and wherein such articles can be conveniently removed from the cabinet when they are needed. The cabinet `10 includes a plurality of inclined shelves 13 which have their front ends arranged lower than the rear ends thereof so that the articles can be conveniently picked up from the front portion of the shelves. The shelves y23 have their front ends supported on the members 24, and the L-shaped members 24 extend between the side walls 13 and are secured thereto. Portions of the 'cabinet 10 such 'as the shelves 23, walls 13and wall `14 may b e made of transparent material so that a person can readily observe the contents which are arranged within cabinet. The doors 15 may be arranged in closed position as shown in Figure 3, and if desired a suitable lock can be arranged in engagement with the pair of keepers 21 on the doors 15. When it is desired to remove or replace an article on the shelves 23, it

is only necessary to grip either one or both of the knobs 20 whereby the doors 15 can be swung open from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. With the doors 15 in the open position as shown in Figure 5 for example or as shown in Figure 6, it will be seen that the pins 22 which are carried by the doors 15, engage the outer longitudinal edge of the side walls 13 so that the doors 15 will be maintained in a position contiguous to the outer surface of the side walls 13. Due to the provision of the coil springs 19, it will be seen that sufficient force will be exerted on the links 16 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5 for example, so that the doors 15 will Vnot accidentally move from their adjusted position. Similarly, the doors 15 can be readily moved from the position shown in Figure 5 back to the closed position shown in Figure 4 and the springs 19 will prevent accidental opening of the doors 15. However, by exerting sufcient pressure on the knobs 20, the doors 15 can be readily moved to overcome the resistance of the springs 19. As shown in the drawings, a pair of links 16 may be pivotally connected to the top wall 14 by means of pivot pins 17, and similarly a similar pair of links 16 can be pivotally connected to the bottom wall 11, and each of these links are pivotally connected to the movable doors 15.

The cabinet of the present invention can be used for holding any type of articles such as tools, instruments or the like, and the cabinet is constructed so that a person can readily gain access to the material arranged therein. .By having the walls made of transparent material, a person can .readily observe the contents of the cabinet and the doors are constructed or arranged so that there is a positive holding action in effect whether the doors are open or closed. The cabinet is light in weight and the cabinet is constructed so that there is a large amount of usable storage space. The cabinet is easy to maintain in appearance and the parts will not readily become broken orl damaged. If desired, a suitable sling or strap assembly can be used for facilitating the carrying of the cabinet. The cabinet is attractively constructed and can be used for any desired purpose, as for example as a toolmakers tool and instrument unit, medicine cabinet, surgical instrument case, display unit for jewelry, cosmetics, drugs and accessories, photographic accessory container, or for any other desired purpose.

The parts can be madetin different shapes or sizes and of dierent suitable materials. The cabinet is light in weight and can be moved'frorn place to place as desired. The cabinet is constructed so that drawers are eliminated. If desired, reference charts or the like may be fastened within the cabinet so that such charts can be used for reference purposes and also, a suitable receptacle or container may be provided on the cabinet whereby when a sling or strap assembly is not being used, such a strap assembly can be readily stored in the receptacle provided. The cabinet is constructed so that any article arranged therein can be quickly and easily located and removed, and if desired, means may be provided whereby small tools or the like can be hung up or suspended on the back wall of the cabinet. The coil springs 19 serve to insure that the opening and closing of the doors 15 will be Yeffected smoothly and easily. The cabinet can be used to replace tool chests, and suitable bearings can be provided as for example at the points of connection of the links 16. As previously stated, the contents within the cabinet can be more readily seen than when closed drawers are used as for will readily know exactly Where the supplies are in the cabinet of the present invention. In certain instances the cabinet may be made entirely of aluminum. i

I claim: 1. In a cabinet, a horizontally disposed bottom wall, a vertically disposed back wall extending upwardly from example in a conventional tool chest so that a person ,A

said bottom wall, a horizontally disposed top wall arranged in spaced parallel relation above said bottom wall, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls extending between said top and bottom walls, a pair of rectangular shaped doors mounted for movement into and out of closing relation with respect to the front of the cabinet, knobs connected to said doors, links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said top and bottom Walls, and the other ends of the links being pivotally connected to said doors, coil springs having one end connected to said back wall and their other ends secured to certain of said links, pins extending inwardly from the doors for engagement with the outer edges of the side walls when the doors are in open position, a plurality of spaced parallel inclined shelves arranged in said cabinet, the front ends of said shelves being lower than the rear ends thereof, and L-shaped support members extending between said side walls and secured thereto, the lower front ends of said shelves engaging said support members, certain of said Walls and said shelves being made of transparent material.

2. A cabinet including a plurality of walls, and a plurality of inclined shelves supported within said cabinet, said shelves and certain of the wall of the cabinet being made of transparent material, and a pair of doors mounted for movement into and out of opening and closing relation with respect to the front of the cabinet, and means for maintaining the doors immobile in their opened or closed position, said means comprising lugs mounted on said doors at the top and bottom thereof, links having their inner ends pivotally connected to said top and bottom walls and the opposite ends of said links being pivotally connected to the lugs on said doors, coil springs having one end connected to said back wall and the opposite ends secured to the links connected to the top wall and the tops of said doors, and pins extending inwardly from the doors for engagement with the outer edges of the side walls when the doors are in open position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,393 Hutchison Dec. 5, 1899 1,124,655 Powell et al. Ian. 12, 1915 2,575,822 Lyon Nov. 20, 1951 2,681,262 Vincent June 15, 1954 

